try the above paint suggestion and think about adding paneling to the expose bar end and turn under the dark counter. It will be easier to wash off those shoe marks when kids kick, and you won't have clash if you maybe painted paneling same as wall. Test paint with poster board and see if you like it first. Lighting can really make a difference in the perception of colors, and might fix the "clash". Try warm or cold colored bulbs in those pot lights, and see what happens. good luck

My walls are painted Trendy Pink (Resene) and wallpaper Purple textured kinda like water bubble affects. want ideas on shelving for towels etc whether I display them or hide them away in cupboards or the like. I am a sports therapist and wish to change the look alittle with adding new things ... and what colour towels should I go for as white is nice but look aweful after a while... how would I dress my table etc to look professional... Please help me ... I have been massaging for 8 years and need a vamp up..Nichola

If it is happening on two different surfaces, in two different rooms, with two different paint choices and two different sheen levels...I would say it isn't the paint. There is nothing in common to point to "paint problem". A wall paint is a different formula than a cupboard paint. If it all came from the same can...we might be able to point dirty fingers at the paint...but that isn't the case. You mentioned your husband has a tendency to drag his dirty fingers all over the place...I would start there. These two colours you have chosen may also have a tendency to show oil (body oil, cooking oil, etc...they are all oil) a bit more...simply because of their colour and depth of colour. If different colours had been chosen in the same paint...and no finger marks were appearing then we would know FOR SURE it isn't the paint. It may come down to two things...colour and dirty fingers.

Thanks courtney. it's all finished and we love it. We chose a white glass back splash which really helps to brighten up the space. On a sunny day it's so bright I pull the blinds down lol! the photo looks alot colder than it is too. It's taken on my phone so not the best.